Water-operated power-generating device



Nov. 23 1926. 1,608,373

N. DELL WATER OPERATED POWER GENERATING DEVICE Filed sein. 28, 1925 l 2 sheets-sheet 1 FICFIJ.

la 122 l E 5715 l 0.

Nov. 23 1926.

N. DELL- WATER OPERATED POWER GENERATING DEVICE 2 .Sheets-sheet 2 Filed sept. 28, 1925 Patented Nov. 23, 1926.

UNITED STATES NORMAN DELL, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

WATER-OPERATED POWER-GENERATING DEVICE.

Application filed September 2S, 1925. SeriaI No. 59,192.

My invention relates to improvements in devices for harnessing the kinetic energy of swiftly moving current-s of water and the object of the invention is to erect a track carrying structure over the flow upon which are mounted a plurality of cars having downwardly extending vanes which project into the flow and thus carry the cars along` the track in the direction in which the water is iiowing, such cars being adapted to connect with an endless belt or other power conduct-ing means for transforming their longitudinal movement into a rotative movement which is coupled to dynamos or actuates any required machinery. A further object of my invention is to swingably inount vanes upon the cars so that when they are being immersed and removed from the water flow at either end of the structure they will be turned parallel to the direction of the stream thus offering practically no resistance to the flow of water and reducing the strain upon the respective hoisting and lowering means to a minimum. A still further object of the invention is to provide an upper inclined track upon which the cars are adapted to run downwardly from the rear to the forward end of the structure where they are againdropped intoktheir working position to be carried to the rear end of the structure by the flow of water therebeneath.

My invention consists of the above device 4 as set forth all as hereinafter more particularly described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which: Y

Fig. l is a side elevational View of my complete structure showing it positioned above a stream of water which is traveling in the direction indicated by the arrow.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross sectional view through the lower tracks showing one of the cars mounted thereon also the endless chain to which the cars connect when traveling along such track, and

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan View ofthe forward portion of one ofthe cars anda portion of the track upon lwhich it is niounted, the means being shown for swingingV4 the vanes Vfrom their actuating or streamengaging position into the position wherein they aiford the least obstruction to the flow of water thus permitting them to be readily lifted in and out ofthe stream.

Like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different views.

l is a canal or river bed through which flows a volume of water in the direction indicated by the arrow and 2 and 3 are a pair of steel structural towers adapted to either bridge the stream or be positioned therein. i is a horizontal track extending between the lower portions of the two towers being parallel with and running in the same direction as the flow of water and positioned just above its surface. A pair of hoist platforms 5 and 6 are positioned in the respective towers 2 and 3 and are provided with sections of track 7 which join with the respective ends of the track 4 when such platforms are in the lowermost position. 8 are the hoist mechanisms which may be electrically or otherwise actuated for hoisting the platforms. Extending between the towers and positioned above the track 4t a second track 9 is provided; this track is inclined downwardly from the rear tower 3 to the front tower 2, the sections of track 7 upon the hoisting platforms 5 and 6 being adapted to join with the respectiveends of such track 9 when such platform hoists are in their uppermost positions.

A plurality of cars l having running wheels ll. are provided upon the device and are adapted to run upon the tracks 4 and 9 as will be hereinafter described. 12 are a plurality of downwardly extending vertical vanes provided upon the under side of each car being centrally mounted upon upwardly extending shafts 13 which extend upwardly through the center of the cars and through the centrally positioned bosses 1tV on their upper faces. l are collars secured upon thev upper ends of the shafts 18 by means of pins 16 or any other suitable means. y

17 is a tangentially extending lug upon the collar l5 being in a parallel plane to the plane of the respective vane l2 therebeneath andlS is a stop projecting outwardly anddownwardly from one of the structural struts 1,9 ofthe tower 3 and adapted to push the` lug 17 from the position illustratedfin dotted lines in .Figure 3 into the lposition illustrated in full lines in such figure as they car passes beneath. the strut l9l'thus swinging t-he respective vane 12 from its water flow engaging position into a non-engaging vposition. V

longitudinal position to lessen their obstruction to the water, and means whereby the vanes are lifted out of the water in their transverse position when the cars are elevated at the down stream end of the track.

5. A device of the class described, comprising a track positioned above and ruiming in the same direction as the water flow, cars mounted upon the track and having pivotally mounted vanes thereon extending into the water for propelling the cars along the track under the iniiuence of the water flow, means for elevating the cars when they reach the down stream end oi' the track, an inclined track positioned above the aforesaid track to which the cars are elevated and upon which they run downwardly to the beginning or upstream end of the track, means at the down stream end of the track for partially7 rotating the vanes to move them from a substantially transverse water engaging position to a substantially longitudinal posi tion to lessen their obstruction to the water, and means whereby the vanes are lifted out of the water in their transverse position when the cars are elevated at the down stream end of the track.

5. A device of the class described, comprising a pair of spaced apart towers positioned in the water flow, a track positioned above the water and extending between the towers in the same direction as the water liow, cars on the track having vanes thereon extending into the water and adapted to propel the cars along the track under the influence of the water flow, means in the tower at the down stream end of the track for elevating the cars when they reach said tower, an inclined track positioned above the aforesaid track and extending between the towers and to which the cars are elevated when they reach said tower and upon which they run downwardly to the tower in the up stream end of the track, and means in said tower for lowering the cars to the lirstmentioned track wherein the vanes upon the cars again engage the water flow.

7. A'device oi the class described, comprising a pair of spaced apart towers posiH tioned in the water flow, a track positioned f above the water and extending between the towers in the same direction as the water flow, cars on the track having vanes pivotally mounted thereon extending into the water and adapted to propel the cars along the track under the influence of the water How, means in the tower at the down stream end oit the track for elevating the cars when they reach said tower, means at the down stream end of the track for partially rotating the vanes to move them from a substantially transverse water engaging position to a substantially longitudinal position to lessen their obstruction to the water, and means whereby the vanes are lifted out of the water in their transverse position when the cars are elevated at the down stream end of the track, an inclined track positioned above the aforesaid track and eX- tending between the towers and to which the cars are elevated when they reach said tower and upon which they run downwardly to the tower in the up stream end of the track, and means in said tower for lowering the cars to the rstmentioned track wherein the vanes upon the cars again engage the water flow.

n NORMAN DELL. 

